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Are we indifferent to Tory contempt?

No good ever goes unpunished. By bringing down the “Harper government” on a contempt of Parliament motion, the opposition parties may have doomed their chances of preventing a Conservative majority government.

No good ever goes unpunished. By bringing down the “Harper government” on a contempt of Parliament motion, the opposition parties may have doomed their chances of preventing a Conservative majority government.

Canadians seem indifferent to the most undemocratic government in Canadian history. Prime Minister Stephen Harper knows Canadians do not care enough about our erosion of democracy to do anything about it, unless we are talking about Afghanistan, Egypt or Libya.

The Harper government has received the first contempt of Parliament censure in the British Commonwealth. In the 17th century, the Stuart kings tried to rule over and without Parliament. This culminated in the execution of Charles I and the enactment of the British Bill of Rights in 1689, which asserted the supremacy of Parliament or, in layman’s terms, the consent of the people. This bill was incorporated into the U.S. Bill of Rights and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Harper has violated these rights.

The Harper government was elected on a platform of transparency and openness. Instead, we have seen an increase in executive powers, the suspension of Parliament on two occasions, attempts to shut down the auditor general, partisan Senate appointments, refusal to disclose the cost of government programs, and too much more to list here.

For a more complete look at Harper’s neo-Machiavellianism read Harperland by Lawrence Martin. Much of the information comes from Harper’s senior staff, not just Liberal critics.

God save our land from voter indifference and government tyranny. Canadian voters must be more vigilant and informed. I hope I am wrong, after all, the electorate have refused to give the Conservative Party majorities in the last two elections.

Ray Kowalski

Sylvan Lake